New provider chosen for Toronto-area bus routes

Unifor is calling for change following the flipping of contracts for more than 450 Toronto-area school bus routes.

The bus routes were contracted to a new provider on Feb. 29, a move the union said will result in an unstable bus system.

“When school bus contracts are constantly being flipped from one provider to another, the system simply cannot deal with the issues that are most important to students and their parents,” said Unifor’s Ontario regional director Katha Fortier.

“Parents are now left wondering who will be getting their children to school next fall, and what further turmoil might be brought to this very important service.”

Further contracts are expected to be handed out by the Toronto Student Transportation Consortia in the coming weeks.

According to Unifor, the current request for proposals (RFP) system leads to instability as there is no guarantee that existing drivers will find work with the new provider. Under provincial law, the drivers’ union representation, wages, benefits and working conditions do not move with them to a new provider.

Unifor announced it will continue to meet with the Ministry of Education in an effort to address its concerns about the RFP system.